Davenport desk
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A Davenport desk is a narrow, tall desk with an inclined lifting desktop attached with hinges to the back of the body. Lifting the desktop gives access to a large compartment giving ample storage space for paper and other writing implements, and smaller spaces in the forms of small drawers and pigeonholes. In addition, the Davenport has drawers on one of its sides, which are sometimes concealed by a panel. This stack of side drawers holds up the back of the desk and most of its weight. The front of the desk stands on thick legs or pillars which are usually carved in a given style.
The shape is very distinctive if not strange. The top part is much like an antique school desk while the bottom is like one half of the supports of a pedestal desk turned sideways. The addition of the two legs in front complete the odd effect.
This desk owes its name to a captain Davenport who was the first to commission this particular design, from Gillows of London, near the end of the 18th century. In a sense then it could also be considered a Campaign desk though there are no records indicating if the captain was in the British Army or the Royal Navy.
This desk form was very popular during the 19th century. There have been numerous reproductions during the 20th century, and amateur cabinet makers sometimes consider a Davenport to be an interesting project.
The Davenport desk should not be confused with the Davenport sofa, which is usually a modern combination sofa and bed or an antique form of upholstered sofa based on a design conceived at the beginning of the 20th century by a Boston company called Irving and Casson and Davenport.
See also the list of desk forms and types.
References
- Aronson, Joseph. The Encyclopedia of Furniture. 3rd ed. New York: Crown Publishers, 1966.
- Gloag, John. A Complete Dictionary of Furniture. Woodstock, N.Y. : Overlook Press, 1991.